29 September Evening at The Wellington Club
5.15pm for 5.45 pm start
Speaker: Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former New Zealand Prime Minister
Sir Geoffrey Palmer was PM from 1989 to 1990 - an era of great change both domestically and internationally in the closing days of the Cold War and increasing globalisation. Today is an era of great change, too - which he'll be talking about in his speech, titled "The Challenges to Democracy and the Rule of Law."
Speaker: Angela Gruer, Blueprint Centre for Learning
Blueprint for Learning is on a mission to ensure New Zealanders all have mental health and addiction literacy skills. It means all Kiwis have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to have real conversations about mental health and addiction to support people in their workplaces and communities.
We’re absolutely delighted to have Stuart Brooker back with us! Stuart first joined RCW in 1990 and proudly served as President in 2000. After a couple of years away, he’s returned—because he missed the fellowship and fun of our club. Stuart has always brought energy, commitment, and good humour to everything he does, and we couldn’t be happier to have him back in the RCW family.
Be sure to say hello and give Stuart a warm welcome at our next meeting!
Please welcome Rachel Scott to our Rotary Club
With 30+ years of senior executive and board leadership experience — currently Director of Governance, Risk & Assurance at Victoria University and on the Board of St Patrick’s College Town — Rachel brings impressive expertise and fresh energy to our club.
We’re lucky to have such a professional and inspiring person join our Rotary community.
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
18 October - 6pm
Please come - it will be at a member's house somewhere in Wellington. We have had a great response from people to host a dinner, so we are now actively seeking people to sign up for attending.
The evening is a great opportunity to get to know some fellow Rotarians in the club better. At the same time, you can make a contribution to fundraising for Lifting the Lid - a great youth mental health programme sponsored by Rotary.
Please come - we’ll accommodate dietary/access needs and we promise a fun filled evening. Partners very welcome!
It’s $40 per person - and it’s a BYO. To secure your place, register here:
- Last week’s event with new Wellington diplomats was a success, with several showing interest in joining RCW. Thanks to John McKinnon for hosting and Lynn for her fantastic effort in organizing the flow. Board members and the Membership Ginger Group were able to mix with the diplomats, talk about RCW and enjoy a great evening.
- We will proudly induct three new members at the 29 September meeting: Ayesha Shakya, HE Prasanna Gamage (Sri Lankan Ambassador), and Waqar Qureshi. We approved two new members who will be out to the club for comment- one is a returning member. We are on a roll thanks all!
- To welcome prospective members, the Board approved subsidising their first two RCW lunches, easing the cost for those introducing them.
- Significant updates to RCW By Laws are underway to align with the new Rotary Districts and Clubs Constitution. Thanks to Derek Gill for his dedicated work. Discussion planned for October/November.
- Our 2025-26 club goals are nearly finalised and will be shared in October.
- All club details are now on Club Runner—easy to use for updating your info and accessing member contacts. The mobile app is particularly simple to use. Need help? Click here for the resource guide or ask AI for assistance!
Lifting the Lid – September Update
Now in its third year, Lifting the Lid is improving youth mental health support in Wellington schools – and our club is proud to be involved.
Since 2022, the programme has backed 1,293 students through 1,537 sessions, offering everything from equine and canine therapy to boxing, cyber-safety and neurodiversity programmes. In 2025 alone, 526 students have already benefited.
With New Zealand ranked lowest in the OECD for child mental wellbeing and highest for youth suicide, the need is urgent. By pooling funds across Wellington Rotary Clubs and community partners, Lifting the Lid is giving schools vital tools – and young people hope.
Look out for the team’s fundraising booth at the Waitangi Market on 16 November.
Three easy steps to help our social media campaign
1. Like into our Facebook page (RCW) and press Like. The more likes we get, the more Facebook makes our posts visible.
2. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
3. Go into out LinkedIn page (you’ll need to join LinkedIn for this). See where Roger is working to build some conversation threads (which raises our LinkedIn game. Enter in the conversation briefly – agree, disagree, or briefly share your own experience – it’s the conversation that counts.
Rotary Beyond Our Club
Look Your best for Jumbo Tennis!
RDU has Rotary Polo Tops back in Stock
Long and short sleeves, white or navy. Very reasonable prices.
Join Port Nicholson Rotary for a unique fundraising evening:
Cocktail Party - Auction - Mystery Dinner
Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Time: 5:30pm (dinner venues revealed at 7pm)
Starting Venue: The Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace
Proceeds support youth mental health in Wellington.
Tickets: $100 per person or $800 for a table of 8.
Includes cocktail party, auction, raffles, and two-course mystery dinner (drinks extra).
World Polio Day
It’s no secret that global health programs like the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are facing unprecedented funding challenges amid changing government priorities, rising rates of vaccine hesitancy, and the spread of misinformation. So why should Rotary members continue to care about polio eradication and World Polio Day? The simple answer:
Rotary made a promise to the children of the world that no child should suffer the consequences of this vaccine-preventable disease.
Through our collective voices and actions across the world on 24 October, we can maintain our momentum toward fulfilling that promise.
Anyone keen to go to Big Hats High Tea?
12 October, 3-5 pm
This is a great event at a very attractive venue.
An opportunity to dig out or create A HAT!
Tickets $70. See the ad below.
If you'd like to go and support Rotary Hutt Valley's fundraiser, contact Lee Wilkinson: lee.communicate@gmail.com
Club Dates
Social Events As at 22 September
18 Oct - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
1 Nov - Play: Monument, at Circa
5 March, 2026 - Jumbo Tennis
TBC - Grumpy Old Men in Lycra
Events Coming Up
All events at The Wellington Club, unless otherwise noted
29 September: RCW evening meeting: Speaker - Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former NZ Prime Minister
6 October: Paul Harris lunch
13 October: RCW lunch: Speaker - Angela Gruer, Blueprint Centre for Learning
20 October: RCW lunch: Speaker - Dr Claire Achmad, Commissioner for Children
